COLONEL DUNNESir, seeing the right hon. Gentleman the President of the Poor Law Board in his place, I beg to ask whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce a Bill to put a stop to the revolting cruelties practised in the deportation of paupers long resident in England to Ireland?
§ MR. BAINESSir, with reference to the question put by the hon. and gallant Gentleman, I beg to remind him that, towards the latter part of last Session, a 1392 Select Committee was appointed for the purpose of investigating the whole subject of the operation of the present law of removal of Irish paupers from England and Scotland. In consequence of the lateness of the period at which that Committee was appointed, the number of the points raised before the Committee, and the very conflicting nature of the evidence given before it, the Committee resolved unanimously, at the close of the Session, simply to report the evidence they had taken, and to accompany it by a recommendation to the House to resume the inquiry as early as possible in the present Session. I beg to state, therefore, to the hon. and gallant Gentleman, that it is my intention, within a fortnight from this time, to move the reappointment of that Committee, so that they may proceed to complete their inquiry as soon as possible. The hon. and gallant Gentleman will see, however, that until that inquiry has been completed it would be quite impossible for the Government to pledge itself to any particular measure relating to the removal of paupers.
COLONEL DUNNEI beg to give notice that if the Government do not act immediately, and without waiting for an inquiry, I will myself bring in a Bill to effect the object in view.